Richmond race is last chance for Busch, Vickers

The focus Saturday night at Richmond will be on Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch and whether either can make the Chase, but then what? If either guy made the field, what kind of title contender would he be?

Only once since NASCAR's title Chase debuted in 2004 has a driver who clinched a Chase spot at Richmond - the final race before the Chase field is set - gone on to win the championship. Kurt Busch did it that first year.

Vickers enters this weekend's race at Richmond International Raceway 20 points behind Matt Kenseth for the last transfer spot. Kyle Busch is 37 points behind Kenseth.

Should Kyle Busch make it, he'd start the Chase among the leaders because of his race wins. All the Chase contenders have their point total reset to 5,000, and drivers then get 10 bonus points for each win. Busch and Mark Martin both have a series-high four wins, so they would be leading the Chase - provided they make it - going to New Hampshire next week.

For Kyle Busch to get in, he's focused on a win, which is what he did at Richmond in May. Although he has been good at Richmond, his performance at other tracks has him on the verge of missing a chance for the championship.

"For some reason, we just haven't been able to hit our stride," he said. "We need to get back to being able to be consistent week in and week out."

He said that, even during races, it's been a problem. In the last eight races, dating to July at Daytona, he has been outscored by every title contender except his brother, Kurt. Kyle Busch has scored 932 points during that stretch; and Kurt 898.

Vickers has scored the most points in the last eight races, 1,205. That's 35 more than Tony Stewart, 41 more than Denny Hamlin, 100 more than Kasey Kahne, and 156 more than Jimmie Johnson.

Vickers hasn't finished worse than 12th in any of the last eight races. So could his team end up as the one to beat for the championship?

"I know we're capable of it," Vickers said. "I think, at this point, we need to set high goals and expectations, but we also have to remain realistic.

"I think, to try to put that pressure on such a young team, the expectation to win the championship, would not be right," he said. "It doesn't mean that we don't think we're capable of it or we shouldn't try, but I think to put the expectation up there that we should, is probably a bit strong for a 2-1/2-year-old team."

ANOTHER MAYFIELD LAWSUIT

Jeremy Mayfield has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against his former stepmother, Lisa Mayfield, over the death of his father, according to The Associated Press.

The suit, filed in North Carolina Superior Court, does not allege how Lisa Mayfield was involved in the death of Terry Mayfield, but it claims that her "intentional actions" played a direct role in his death. Lisa Mayfield denied any wrongdoing in a defamation suit she filed against Jeremy Mayfield in July.

Police ruled that Terry Mayfield's death two years ago was a suicide. He died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

Lisa Mayfield has testified on NASCAR's behalf that she witnessed Jeremy Mayfield taking methamphetamine at least 30 times during the time he raced in NASCAR. Mayfield became the first driver to be suspended under NASCAR's new drug testing policy in May. He's challenging his suspension in court.

BABY ON BOARD

Elliott Sadler announced Tuesday that his wife is due to have the couple's first child in March. They were married in January.

PIT STOPS

Travis Kvapil will replace John Wes Townley for Friday's Nationwide race at Richmond.... Tony Stewart's Prelude to the Dream dirt late model race is tonight at Eldora Speedway in Ohio. The charity event brings in several Cup drivers. It's available on HBO Pay-Per-View. The cost is $24.95 and the broadcast begins at 7 p.m.